Search This Blog

Posts

﻿ "Time spent gathering, cleaning and storing of collected objects, whether they are man-made or natural, allows for a kind of wonder and intimacy with each object. This gleaned information is crucial while combining materials to make new, hybrid forms." (Reference : http://www.mariandrews.com/)

A few days ago I received a newsletter from the Origin Team in the UK titled Work in Progress ... a Peek into the maker'sworkshop.

The photo is of the artist Amanda Caines stitching a bracelet in her studio and whose work, I read, is "constructed from trawling the Thames for any useful fragments; from ceramic pipes, glass bottles, found archaeology pieces, interesting collectables which are woven with vintage fabrics."

I was certainly inspired by her work (as you know I love to work with found and recycled materials), but also by the fact that somone had been inspired to photograph the artist at work (of course! why not! but ... how often do you get to see someone in the throes of playing, processing and producing the work that ends up on display for others to admire?) As you know I love process!

The photographer is Kelly Hill who is in the process of creating hand portraits by craft makers. Her images, I read, "serve to remind us how important the hand is for the cr…

As part of my teaching program this term at Calico and Ivy, I have been running Simple Sewing workshops. I love doing workshops, which I see as being more process-oriented, as opposed to a class which is usually product-focussed. One of the participants came to make cushions using scraps of fabrics. Alex had a stash of selvedge strips left over from previous patchwork projects and thought they would be perfect to use in making a cushion... her idea not mine. My role is to encourage people to be courageous and to feel confident in expressing themselves creatively. A bit of guidance and technical know-how, providing the space and time and cups of tea - easy!